Federal Judge Mark Abel in Ohio has imposed a $15 million damage award
on former Somali colonel, Abdi Aden Magan, who tortured human rights
advocate Abukar Hassan Ahmed. What was most striking about the decision
was the statement that such damages are necessary to guarantee that the
United States is not a “safe harbor for those who commit human rights
abuses.” Of course, this follows a series of court decisions barring the
victims of the U.S. torture program from even getting a trial, let
alone damages. Those responsible continue to appear on television from
George W. Bush to Dick Cheney to John Yoo. Indeed, rather than punish
those who facilitated the torture program, we made one — Jay Bybee
(shown right) — a federal appellate judge with lifetime tenure. That
particular “safe harbor” is found in the courthouse of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.